With the 2015 international climate agreement approaching, issues of equity have taken centre stage with the UNFCCC core principles of equity, and common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, lying at the heart of the debate. To help navigate these issues, the World Resources Institute and the Climate and Development Knowledge Network have produced this working paper drawing lessons on equity from a number of existing multilateral regimes. These include environmental, trade, and human rights regimes, with a focus on both their differentiation between developed and developing countries, and equity within the institutions, support, and procedures that facilitate participation in the objectives of the regimes. The structure of the paper consists of an introduction, followed by eight case studies of multilateral regimes, including The Minamata Convention on Mercury, The World Trade Organisation, and the European Union’s 1997-98 Burden Sharing agreement. Each case study includes specific lessons drawn from how these regimes dealt with the issue of defining and implementing equity, before these lessons are then synthesised and applied to the UNFCCC context. Six key recommendations are divided equally into two categories: differentiation of commitments, and equity through institutions, support, and procedures.
Multilateral regimes have used a variety of modes of differentiation, both in distinguishing between parties, as well as among the actions they take. Differentiating timings of obligations has been relatively successful model that should be considered.
Establishing an effective process for determining differentiation is key, combining both objective criteria and negotiation. The European Union experience regarding the sharing of greenhouse gas emission reduction may be valuable here.
Efforts to strengthen regimes over time may also be valuable; while time can allow for capacity building where needed, those parties who can could help create positive momentum by going farther in their efforts sooner than others.
Regarding institutions, support and procedures, access to finance is highlighted as key to achieving equitable outcomes, together with access to technology.
In establishing procedures and institutions, attention to equity is important for strengthening compliance and participation. Facilitation, rather than sanctions, have been useful for developing countries in many multilateral regimes.
Country ownership of strategies, and effective monitoring of finance, are crucial for achieving equity.